two hearts, four paws : Adrienne & Charlie

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Welcome to our first edition of "Two Heart, Four Paws", which will be our monthly volunteer spotlight. Canine Partners of the Rockies is fueled by the amazing volunteers that dedicate their lives to helping Coloradans with disabilities lead more independent lives and we are grateful to now have a space to appreciate them!  This month, we chose to highlight Adrienne Schwisow, a volunteer puppy raiser for one of our advanced dogs, Charlie! 

“The range of what we can teach these wonderful dogs blows my mind and is a true testament to the majesty of the dog and the beauty of the human-dog partnership. My personal dog and I have been a volunteer therapy dog team at Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge for about 6 years, so I have continually witnessed the power of our dogs to help people who need it, often in ways we don't anticipate. Diving into the service dog world seemed to be a natural extension of that." 

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When asked why she chose to become a volunteer raiser for Canine Partners, this is what she shared; "Timing was some of it, but I visited a few organizations and I liked this human team a lot. They are young and vibrant, and they had a dog (Charlie) at the time who needed what I could give!"

“It has been much more FUN than I even expected. The joy of watching him grow from a sweet ding-dong puppy into a truly fabulous fast-maturing dog  who can tackle and handle just about anything is just beyond measure. I try not to think about the time when he will have to leave, but I know that through my sad tears I will also be busting with pride and joy for the new special partnership he will be making.

"Charlie has flown on the plane with me (on the floor in the bulkhead), been to volleyball matches, movies, concerts and plays. Been hiking, backcountry camping and tent-sleeping at 10,000 feet, been to countless dinners, brunches, bars, coffee shops, breweries, game nights, restaurants and parties, including a bachelorette party. He's been bowling and swimming and went to a kiddie day camp, has hit the rodeo, the library, ridden in golf carts, and been to the gym and places like my human doctor, hair and massage appointments. He regularly goes to the grocery store and on other shopping adventures and has made a ton of doggie and human friends of all ages. Next month he will be helping me officiate a wedding!"

"If you love dogs and you are willing to put in the time and learn as the trainer teaches you, it will be one of the most powerful experiences of your life!" Adrienne added about her experience as a puppy raiser.

If you are interested in raising a puppy like Charlie, we would love for you to get involved.
​To learn more, visit Dog Program Volunteers.